A variant or dialectal spelling of 'bowtell': a rounded molding or architectural feature shaped like a small rounded rod or bead.
From 'bow' (curved) and related to 'toll' or 'tell': an architectural term describing a semicircular molding. Medieval craftspeople named features after their shapes.
Medieval architects loved describing decorative elements based on what they looked like—'bowtel' literally meant 'curved little thing,' which is somehow charming in how practical and unsophisticated it sounds.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.